Paper

Whether it’s your daily newspaper, the letters you receive, something you print out or a post-it note you stick up as a reminder, we’re surrounded by different types of paper at home.

Paper is a useful material that can easily be recycled but you can also reduce and reuse it easily too

Reduce

• Use email or phone when possible
• Sign up to online news services
• Share magazines and newspapers with your friends and family
• Print double sided
• Reduce junk mail by signing up to the mail preference service or ask for a no junk mail sticker when you see us at a local event.
• If you do need to buy paper, have a look to see if there are any recycled alternatives, you can easily get plain paper, envelopes, sticky notes, kitchen roll and toilet roll.

Reuse

• Make a scrap pad from odd bits of paper
• Use the back of that envelope for lists or notes
• If you open your post carefully you may be able to re-use the envelopes. Just add a sticker or stick another piece of re-used paper to the front with the address of the person you want to send it to on.
• Use paper for arts and crafts such as papier mache
• Check out these items you could make with unwanted paper, 34 ideas from the web including a decorative trees, coasters, baskets and a protector for your tablet or phone.
• Give your magazines to local surgeries or other waiting rooms

Recycle

• Use your local recycling service
• Put small amounts of shredded paper in your compost bin
• Buy recycled paper products